Find your next October read with Library staff booklists

Spooky stories, chilling thrillers, frequently challenged books and timely reads are all waiting on the Library’s October booklists.

Each month, Louisville Public Library staff curate booklists for children, teens and adults, making it easier to discover something new. This October, embrace spooky season with ghosts and horror, celebrate the freedom to read during Banned Books Week, continue exploring Hispanic Heritage Month and discover books connected to other October observances.

For kids: Boo to you!

Looking for a Halloween read that’s more silly than scary? Boo To You is filled with ghostly stories for young readers who like their spooky season with plenty of fun.

In Matthew Forsythe’s Aggie and the Ghost, Aggie is excited to finally live on her own—until she discovers her new house is haunted. Her solution? A carefully considered set of rules for her unexpected roommate. But living with a ghost may require a little flexibility—and some sharing.

Or meet a particularly hungry haunt in Geneviève Côté’s Bob’s Hungry Ghost. Bob wants a dog for his birthday but gets a pet ghost named Fluffy instead. Unfortunately, Fluffy doesn’t listen very well and has a habit of eating everything in sight.

Find more not-so-scary reads on the Boo To You booklist.

For teens: It’s giving...bloodbath

Mysterious killers, last-girl-standing suspense and plenty of reasons not to split up with your friends—It’s Giving...Bloodbath is an October booklist for teen horror fans ready for a scare.

In Riley Sager’s Final Girls, Quincy Carpenter is the sole survivor of a massacre that killed five of her friends. Ten years later, she has built a new life and put the past behind her—or so she thinks. When another survivor known as a “Final Girl” is found dead and a third suddenly appears, the nightmare begins all over again.

How to Survive Your Murder by Danielle Valentine gives the slasher story a time-travel twist. Alice is sent back to the night her sister was murdered and has until midnight to uncover the killer’s identity. If she can’t solve the mystery in time, she risks losing her sister all over again.

Face your fears with the It’s Giving...Bloodbath booklist.

Read freely during Banned Books Week

Banned Books Week, Oct. 4–10, celebrates the freedom to read and draws attention to efforts to remove or restrict access to books. This October, Library staff have created Banned Books Week lists for children, teens and adults.

The adult Banned Books Week booklist includes books from across genres and generations, including George Orwell’s Animal Farm, Toni Morrison’s The Bluest Eye and Sarah J. Maas’ A Court of Thorns and Roses.

Readers of all ages can take part. Explore Banned Books Week selections for children and teens, too.

More to explore in October

October’s booklists also offer opportunities to explore different experiences, perspectives and topics throughout the month.

Hispanic Heritage Month, through Oct. 15
Keep the celebration going with books highlighting Hispanic and Latino stories, voices and experiences. Explore booklists for children, teens and adults.

World Mental Health Day, Oct. 10
Explore an adult booklist featuring stories and perspectives connected to mental health and well-being.

National Coming Out Day, Oct. 11
Discover an adult booklist featuring LGBTQ+ stories and experiences in recognition of National Coming Out Day.

National First Responders Day, Oct. 28
Recognize the people who respond when communities need help with books inspired by first responders and the work they do. Explore selections for children and adults.

Whether you’re looking for a ghostly picture book, a thriller that keeps you guessing or a story that opens a window into someone else’s experience, Library staff have plenty of ideas for your October reading list.